This is already the second release of this one man project hailing from Rostock, Germany. Like on his first CD, Michael Senft presents here his version of harsh EBM/Electro music with already heard distorted vocals, rough and steady beats and overdriven sequencer bass lines. Comparable to older SUICIDE COMMANDO stuff like the "Critical Stage" era is surely a possible reference, but unfortunately are HIOCTAN not able to play in the same league like his alter ego act. Here is a lot of repetition on almost all tracks, a lift up in song structuring wouldn’t be bad at all. Also the choice of synth sounds cannot really convince me, most bass line and melodic strings are sounding careless and old. It is a pity that here isn’t too much interesting stuff which would help this project to gather a higher level than average. If you look out for some stuff with an edge, with a musically demand, you are wrong with HIOCTAN. This album (excellent cover artwork with nice photos by the way...) is only dedicated to harsh EBM short-cut-hair rivetheads.

Behind this modest name we have a duo which hails from Berlin and Schwedt, Germany, and consists of Daniel Lemke (music) and Rico Ferenc Piller (vocals), who was active in a well known band like D.-PRESSIV (3 albums released on Maschinenwelt...r.i.p.). P24 are producing music somewhere between Synth- and Future-Pop with some harder efforts up to EBM. Extraordinary is the fact that all of their lyrics are written and sung in German – you won’t find any English lyrics here. This debut CD offers 5 original tracks plus tons of remix works by more (HAUJOBB or Marc Werner of SABOTAGE) or lesser (their label comrades of FP or ORPHEÉ for example) known acts – so in all 14 tracks and a long playing time with more than 73 minutes. With the exception of the German vocals you wont find too much surprises here, because musically the band follows similar ideas and styles like big names out of the Futurepop-genre have already presented. I wouldn’t count this a flaw, moreover I would say that the vocals could need some refreshing production. I like really the sound of the vocals but a bit lesser use of reverb effects on it could help. So it is no wonder, that he best and strongest moments this duo offers with melodic refrain of "Offenheit". Best track overall is to my taste the melancholic remix of the track "Niemand", done by Nico of CONDITION ONE. This is indeed a decent debut, which seems to get some interest in Poland (a little wonder, as I said, they sing in German...) in the official charts. Well, good luck to the next superstars...

Folded in a paper booklet with an excellent artwork comparable with some works of Ant-Zen, here comes the newest release by the Slovakian label Aliens Productions, home of the great and well known act DISHARMONY. This compilation unites 12 more or less known bands out of the Dark Electro/Industrial and Ambient genre hailing mainly from Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Two "guests" which became friends of the label in the years are also present here with the German Dark Ambient artist POLYGON, solo effort of Ingo Lindmaier (MORTAL CONSTRAINT), and the French Ambient/Powernoise act FLINT GLASS leaded by Gwen Tremorin, who is also behind the label Brume Records. So musically you get a fine collection of dark and less danceable music stuff which will give you an up to date overview about the currently rising scene in both brother countries. What makes this release worthfull is the fact that all music here is currently only available here, so you get some previously unreleased and exclusive stuff from already known acts like DISHARMONY (new CD is out now in co-operation between Aliens Production and Monopolrecords from Czech Republic), TERMINAL STATE (released a debut in co-operation between Aliens Production and the German label Broken Seal three years ago and seem now to work on a comeback...), OXYD (the more Ambient-like side-project of DISHARMONY, debut CD is now out...) or the great Czech Electro/Industrial act DEPRESSIVE DISORDER (outstanding debut on Monopolrecords). Make your contacts out to Aliens Production to purchase this fine release. I am really looking forward to hear more dark music hailing from Eastern Europe...

Track listing:

1. ANIMA MUNDI – Oscillate
2. SAMHAIN – Subsist
3. FLINT GLASS – Deliverance
4. DISHARMONY – Repulse
5. VORTEX – Illusions
6. TERMINAL STATE – Systematic Failure
7. MINDMAP – Akusia
8. GAPING CHASM – Only Shadows will Survive
9. OXYD – Empathic Clone
10. DEPRESSIVE DISORDER – Schizophrenia
11. TENSION – Room No. 5
12. POLYGON – Wo a

Crash Frequency is the name of a new community of bands out of Down Under, Australia. Force through unity, so could maybe the motto sound. It is target to help each out, sharing opportunities, organizing gigs, doing promotion – simply to speak with a mighty voice of a whole Electro/Industrial scene – no matter if and where the bands are signed or not. So this 10 tracks represented by the members of this community is a first mutual sign of life, I must say, a musically very diverse one. ANGELSPIT, opener on this comp and a driving force of this community start with a danceable, classic Industrial inspired track, distorted female vocals and some guitar riffs, comparable somehow with an act like MMTM. ANGEL THEORY is surely one of the most acclaimed and known act here, signed to Australia’s Ground Under Productions, and here present with a good remix done by New Zealand’s THE MERCY CAGE (signed now to DSBP) of their track "Ease the Pain". Next remarkable piece comes from THE CRYSTALLINE EFFECT which combine beautiful female vocals with Electro and some Trip-Hop elements. Globally nice done and finally no wonder, that the Polish label Black Flames picked them up. Australia’s Gothic-Rock legend IKON is also available here and can satisfy with good vocals and a rich amount of electronics. LUX VOLTAIRE prove that there is enough humor in Down Under with a track name in German "Ich liebe mein Oberheim" – well, music seems to produced with synths of this manufacturer. Best track to me – obviously following trendy hypes like Futurepop – is the piece of RESURRECTION EVE, also signed to Ground Under Productions. Well worked out sequences, no minimal structures, good vocals made an easy to following track of this mentioned genre which deserves a wider recognition. Also TANKT offer a good and diverse piece with "Bush on Fire" – be sure that they do not referring on forest fire. Unfortunately this comp stops after 10 tracks and almost 49 minutes. I can see on the members list that there are a lot of more bands involved, and especially my personal favorite STARK is missed hard here. Anyhow, there are a lot of different music styles here and a nice proof of activity and life still to come from Down Under. Next releases in co-operation of this community are already in plans, look out for this comp as well as for new releases by ANGEL SPIT, TANKT, IKON or THE CRYSTALLINE EFFECT.

Track listing:

1. ANGELSPIT – Head Kult (Head Fuck Mix)
2. ANGEL THEORY – Ease the Pain (Placebo Mix by THE MERCY CAGE)
3. THE BOM – Machine Men
4. THE CRYSTALLINE EFFECT – Why Do I Hate Myself?
5. DANDELION WINE – Begin Journey (Rejiggered)
6. DOMINO THEORY – Kill You
7. IKON – Psychic Vampire
8. LUX VOLTAIRE – Ich liebe mein Oberheim (Electrolux Mix)
9. RESURRECTION EVE – Wine
10. TANKT – Bush on Fire (John Von Ahlen’s Leather Mask Mix)

"Overkill" is already the second full length album of PAINBASTARD, a German one man project consisting of Alex P. I see the cover with a black angel (the angel of death...?) in front of rotten industrial areas and it is all colored in black and gray. The used fonts of the track list are old Germany-like based on WWII ideas and I’m sure that Alex has seen and heard very often the stuff of :WUMPSCUT: for example. Almost the same goes out to the music. I am sure that Alex has taken in his career a deep look into all efficient ingredients acts like the already mentioned :W:, plus HOCICO and/or SUICIDE COMMANDO have already produced before and so nothing is really new here. PAINBASTARD play hard along the allowed cliches this music genre has to offer, nevertheless this new album has blown me totally away. It is really hard to look for an almost comparable album which hit me that hard like this "Overkill" has done. It must belong on the pure and naked aggression this project has to offer on almost all tracks of this release. I am impressed by the overall "slab-in your-face" attitude caused through the very aggressive vocals and the straight hitting beats. This is hard and ripping EBM par excellence played with known weapons, but still unique arranged. PAINBASTARD fills also in some guitar sounds ("System Failed" or "Final Day") to support the bass lines and the melodic content is tasteful arranged. So finally I am still searching for the track or the band in where I have already discovered the music from PAINBASTARD without success. Excellent mastering work again was done by Krischan of the talented ROTERSAND, who was also responsible for this on the last [:SITD:] release. Congrats to the label to this release, congrats to the band for giving a fine produced hard Electro/EBM album which can stand all comparisons.